Col Chris Naler, USMC
On Thursday, December 6, 2012, the Quantico-Potomac Chapter, AFCEA, hosted Colonel Chris Naler, USMC, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Information Operations Command for an Industry Mixer at the Clubs at Quantico. Col Naler gave an outstanding presentation which unfortunately cannot be posted on the web site due to its sensitive nature.
Colonel Naler is a native of Fort Worth, Texas and was commissioned 16 December, 1989 after graduating from the University of North Texas (UNT) with BBA in Strategic Management.
Colonel Naler enlisted in the Marine Reserves March 1986 while attending UNT. Upon graduation from MCRD San Diego he attended field radio operator’s course at Twenty-nine Palms, CA and was assigned to HQ Battery 2d Battalion, 14th Marines in Grand Prairie, Texas. He was selected for Officer Candidate School in 1987 and served concurrently in the Reserves and Platoon Leaders Course Commissioning program. He attended The Basic School and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course in 1990.
Colonel Naler’s operating force experiences included assignments in 10th, 11th and 12th Marine Regiments serving as Battery Fire Direction Officer, Platoon Commander, Forward Observer, Executive Officer and Company Executive Officer of Kilo Co BLT 3/1, 31st MEU(SOC). He commanded Golf Battery 2d Battalion, 10th Marines with subsequent promotion to Major in 1999 with commensurate assignments as the Battalion Operations officer and Executive officer. He commanded 5th Battalion, 10th Marines from 9 June 2008 to 1 July 2010. During February 2009 the battalion was selected to serve as the Brigade Headquarters Group for 2d MEB’s inaugural deployment during March 2009-2010 to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
Colonel Naler served as a Gunnery Instructor at Fort Sill, OK teaching both the Officer Basic and Advance courses. His Joint and Higher Headquarters assignments included Fire Support Officer at Joint Special Operations Command (2001-04), II MEF G-3 Operational Planner (2005-06), MARSOC Deputy G-3 and Future Operations officer (2006-08) and Director, Fire and Maneuver Integration Division, Combat Development Directorate (2011).
His professional military education includes: Amphibious Warfare School (1998), Marine Corps Command and Staff Non-Resident (2001), Joint Forces Staff College (2003), and the School of Advance Warfighting (SAW, 2005) earning a Masters in Operational Studies. His SAW thesis, “Are we ready for an interagency Combatant Command”, was published in Joint Forces Quarterly Issue 41, 2d Qtr 2006. He served as the CMC Fellow at The Brookings Institution earning a Certificate in Public Leadership through Brookings Executive Education Program in partnership with the Olin Business School Washington University in St. Louis (2011).
His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with two Gold Stars, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Air Medal with Strike/Flight numeral 2, Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon with Gold Star and the Honorable order of Saint Barbara. He is authorized to wear the Naval Aviation Observer device earned during combat missions flown over Afghanistan and Iraq during 2001-2004 as the Mission Commander of an Airborne Fire Support Coordination and Direct Air Support Coordination team while serving in Joint Special Operations Task Forces.
Foreign Awards include United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force Regiment Commandant General’s personal Commendation for his service as the first U.S. Commander of RAF Regiment forces during combat operations, (OEF).